Chapter 9: Uneven timeline

Chronos turned.

His father stood framed in the doorway, a towering figure in an obsidian-tailored coat, his silver-streaked hair pulled back sharply.

The man's face was carved stone, but his eyes—God, his eyes—burned with something raw. Not relief. Not joy.

Fury.

"So," his father said, voice like a blade dragged across ice, "you've decided to return from the grave."

Chronos stiffened. "I didn't leave by choice."

"No?" A bitter laugh. "Two years. Two years of searching. Two years of your mother weeping at a shrine with your name on it. And now you stroll in as if you'd merely gone for a walk?"

His mother stepped between them, hands raised. "Eldric, please—"

"No, Liora." His father didn't blink. "I want to hear his explanation. Where were you, boy?"

The accusation hung in the air like smoke. Chronos clenched his fists. The truth coiled in his throat—Time Valour System, another life, a second chance—but the words felt absurd. Who would believe him?

Instead, he met his father's glare. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" His father took a step forward, the floor cracking faintly under his weight. Magic, thick and volatile, pulsed around him. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Eldric!" His mother's voice cracked like a whip. "He's home. That's what matters."

For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then his father exhaled sharply, the tension snapping. "Fine."

He turned on his heel, but paused at the door. Without looking back, he hissed: "But this isn't over."

The slam of the door echoed like a gunshot.

Chronos sank into the nearest chair, his breath uneven. His mother reached for him, but he flinched.

"He hates me," he muttered.

"No." She knelt beside him, her voice softening. "He mourned you. We all did. That kind of grief… it leaves scars." Her fingers brushed his cheek. "Give him time."

Chronos knew time in his case was different than what she meant, he wasn't sure if he would have a lot of that.

"Where's Charles?" He asked, turning to his sad yet happy mother.

"Your brother?" She muttered "I don't know where he goes to lately" she bent her face down

"He just wakes up in the morning and leaves home then come back at night" she said, crying softly

He hugged his mom, caressing her back "Don't worry mom, everything will be fine" he said.

He looked at the time, no way he could make it back to school on time.

Within minutes a hum of a power bike could be heard from inside the mansion, "He's back" his mum muttered wiping her tears.

He stood up from the cushion he sat on

Chronos stood by the staircase as the power bike's hum faded. The front door swung open, and Charles stepped inside, helmet tucked under one arm.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Charles' face had lost its boyish roundness, replaced by sharp angles and shadows under his eyes. His hair, once neatly cut, was longer, slightly disheveled. He looked older. Hardened.

"You're back," Charles muttered.

"Yeah," Chronos said.

A pause. No smile. No rush forward, no brotherly embrace. Just silence.

Charles moved past him without another word, heading upstairs.

Chronos frowned. That's not right.

"Charles," he called, following.

The younger boy stopped in his room, tossing his helmet onto the bed. His fingers lingered on his wrist for a moment before he turned, gaze guarded.

"You should have stayed gone," Charles said.

Chronos felt something cold settle in his chest. "What the hell does that mean?"

Charles sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked like he wanted to say something—but then, with a frustrated breath, he tugged off his glove.

A dark insignia, glowing faintly, twisted across his wrist.

Chronos inhaled sharply. That symbol…

"You don't understand," Charles said. "I had to survive."

A memory flickered in Chronos' mind—his own hands, gripping the edges of time itself, rewinding a moment, altering fate. His father's words echoed: You expect me to believe you don't know where you were?

Maybe he and Charles weren't so different after all.

The room was quiet except for the distant hum of traffic outside. Chronos watched his brother, the faint light from the window painting shadows under his eyes. His voice was soft. "You must've gone through a lot."

Charles didn't look at him. He kept his gaze on the glass, where raindrops slid down like slow tears. "My little brother's already seeing the worst of life because of me," he muttered.

"Not just your fault." Chronos rubbed the back of his neck, staring at the scuffed floorboards.

"After we thought you died… I messed up. Let the pain drag me somewhere dark." He exhaled, finally meeting Charles' eyes. "You never taught me that side of things. Sorry, bro."

Chronos blinked, then gave a weak chuckle. "Hell, I'd probably have done worse."

A dry laugh passed between them. Charles leaned back, running a hand over his face. "How was it?"

"Like nothing even happened."

"Yeah. Right." Charles sighed, and for a moment, the weight of everything unsaid hung heavy in the air.